What term refers to a communication disorder that adversely affects educational performance?

The term that refers to a communication disorder which adversely affects educational performance is Speech or Language Impairment. This designation encompasses a variety of communication issues that can hinder a student's ability to succeed academically. Communication is essential in the educational setting, as it influences a student's ability to interact with peers, understand instructions, and express needs or knowledge effectively.

When a student has a speech or language impairment, it can manifest through difficulties in articulation, the fluency of speech, or the ability to understand and use language appropriately. This can impact not only their learning and academic outcomes but also their social interactions and emotional development. Therefore, recognizing and supporting students with this impairment is critical for fostering their educational success and overall well-being.

Other options, such as expressive or receptive language disorders, represent narrower categories within the broader definition of speech or language impairments. While they are indeed forms of communication disorders, they do not encapsulate the full scope of issues that can arise in the context of speech or language impairment as a whole. Phonemic awareness, on the other hand, pertains more specifically to the understanding of sounds in language and is not a broad term for communication disorders impacting educational performance directly.